The Mayor of Guangzhou is urging Brummies to go to China and judge the country for themselves rather than relying on second-hand accounts of the country's difficulties.

Mayor Zhang Guangning, at the end of an official three-day visit to Birmingham, said he feared many people might have an outdated impression of Guangzhou, which is a historic waterfront trading post and has the third largest city region economy in China.

Although he did not refer directly to allegations that Guangzhou is at the centre of an illegal trade in the sale of body parts from executed prisoners, Mr Zhang said there were many misunderstandings about the "true situation" in the city.

In an exclusive interview with The Birmingham Post, Mr Zhang said his impression of Birmingham before visiting the city would probably have been as incorrect as the view most people in Britain have of China.

Books and articles read by Mr Zhang in preparation for his trip described Birmingham as a dirty, industrial city. He was pleasantly surprised, however, to find a clean "vibrant" city with a booming professional services and commercial sector.

Mr Zhang said: "Before I came to Birmingham I didn't have a very good understanding of the city.

"I knew that Birmingham was very industrial and I read some articles from Marx about Birmingham during the industrial revolution. It was written that Birmingham was dirty and polluted.

"But seeing is believing. Guangzhou has the same situation. If people don't come here they will not have a very objective view of the city.

"We need a better understanding of each other's culture. Then we will respect each other."

Mr Zhang, who said he had been moved by the warmth of his reception here, urged Birmingham to seize the opportunities offered by globalisation by forming closer links with China.

"Britain and China have a long history of links. As early as the 18th century Guangzhou was trading with Britain," he said.

He added: "I would like to take this opportunity to invite the leader of Birmingham City Council and the people of Birmingham to visit Guangzhou. We can enable more people to come to Guangzhou so they can have a better understanding of developments in China."

Mr Zhang said the Sister City agreement with Birmingham, which he signed at a ceremony in the Council House on Monday, marked an important step in the growing relationship between the two cities.

He promised greater co-operation between Guangzhou and Birmingham in manufacturing, financial services, exhibitions, sport, culture and education. He is also investigating the possibility of bringing exhibitions to the NEC. As a first tangible sign of the new relationship, Mr Zhang is to bring a Guangzhou street market to Birmingham. Based on the Frankfurt Christmas market, it will allow a range of Chinese traders to sell their wares in the city centre.

Mr Zhang said he had been "amazed" at the transformation of Birmingham's city centre canals, which he described as one of the best examples of urban regeneration.

Mr Zhang added: "We have been very moved by the warmth and hospitality we have received from Birmingham. This is not only the friendship of two cities but also the friendship of two countries."